Moorman steps down as fracking company's chief exectuive

Damian McCarney The public face of the company which plans to use 'fracking' in the Border area has reportedly stepped down. Since taking up the role of chief executive of Tamboran Resources in April 2011 - soon after the company was granted the licensing options for the Lough Allen Basin - Richard Moorman has led the charm offensive for hydraulic fracturing. His departure, according to the Irish Times, is to enable him to take up "other opportunities." It is understood that he will retain an association with Tamboran by sitting on the company's technical advisory board. Karl Prenderville and his Tamboran colleague Dr Tony Bazley have been given "expanded roles" as regional directors, while Patrick Elliott remains on as company chairman. Tamboran has also reportedly postponed its plans, both to employ 10 staff and to hold local training programme while they await the coalition government to decide its position regarding the use of hydraulic fracturing. The technique for gas extraction from shale rock has vocal opponents worldwide. Locally, a number of groups have formed, particularly in counties Fermanagh and Leitrim, to oppose the use of fracking. Tamboran's determination to put forward their side of the fracking debate saw the media savvy Moorman give an endless stream of interviews, attend dozens of meetings and consultations, and even air his views on websites. He met every objection with his trademark grin while remaining unflustered in the face of relentless opposition to the contentious gas plans. While undoubtedly a key asset to the company, he has infuriated campaigners opposed to 'fracking' by dismissing them as "anti-development folk". Meanwhile the same campaigners point to Mr Moorman's apparent change of stance on fundamental issues such as on the use of chemicals in fracking fluid. In July 2011 Mr Moorman indicated to The Anglo-Celt that Tamboran intended to use chemicals in the frack fluid. When asked - 'Will you disclose the chemical make-up of the frack fluid?' he responded: "Yes, absolutely. Now we unfortunately can't disclose what we don't know today... The exact chemical make-up that we use depends upon the exact chemical make-up of that rock." Weeks later the company announced they would not use chemicals at all in their frack fluid. When pushed by The Anglo-Celt for a specific example where chemical free fracking has been used before, he failed to provide one. At a public meeting in Ballyconnell in September 2011 Mr Moorman gave assurances that the company would submit a recommendation to the State's regulator over gas extraction, the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), that chemicals should be banned from fracturing fluid. However the submission never materialised and Mr Moorman explained to The Anglo-Celt: "We have high respect for the energy regulators in Ireland and believe they are very capable of managing all the many challenges involved in all forms of energy development." Previous to being employed by Tamboran, Mr Moorman was Strategic Analysis, Economic Planning and Acquisitions manager for major US shale gas explorer, developer and producer, Southwestern Energy.